Cervical disc herniation surgery

The cervical spine, in the neck, also has discs between the vertebrae. A cervical disc herniation can press on a nerve root, causing pain that travels down the arm (cervical radiculopathy), sometimes with tingling and weakness of the hand. More rarely, it presses on the spinal cord itself, which can lead to clumsy hands and difficulty walking. As in the lower back, medical treatment is tried first for isolated arm pain: medication, a temporary collar and physiotherapy. Surgery is offered if the pain persists, if weakness appears, or if the spinal cord is at risk. The operation is usually done through a small incision at the front of the neck, in a skin crease. The surgeon passes between the structures of the neck without cutting them, removes the disc and the herniation, then places either a cage, which allows the two vertebrae to fuse, or an artificial disc, which preserves movement. In some cases, an approach from the back of the neck is preferred. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, the operation is performed by a neurosurgeon in the operating theatre, with X-ray guidance and a short hospital stay.